The private life of Henry VIII / Greg Walker.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Walker, Greg, 1959-

Series:

British film guide

A British film guide

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Private life of Henry VIII (Motion picture).

Physical Description:

114 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm.

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : I. B. Tauris, 2003.

Summary:

Alexander Korda's 1933 masterpiece The Private Life of Henry VIII was arguably the most important British film of the pre-war period and its phenomenal critical and box-office success almost single-handedly launched the British film industry as an international concern. In the first exploration of this classic film, Greg Walker looks in depth at the film itself, its makers, and its place in the cinematic and cultural history of the period. Using evidence from the parliamentary and media debates of the 1930s, he pinpoints the film's engagement with the contentious issues of appeasement and reactions to Continental fascism. He examines Korda's subtle handling of national and 'international' identity, his representation of British history, and use of modern stereotypes. He also discusses the fascinating picture which Korda paints of gender and sexuality in the portrayal of Henry's wives and the complex interpretation of masculinity in Laughton's captivating, award-winning central performance.

Contents:

1 Origins 3

2 The Making of The Private Life of Henry VIII 11

3 Korda, Englishness and the 'International Film' 27

4 Korda and the Politics of Representation 42

5 Marriage, Sex and Gender: Relationships in Henry VIII 66

6 Fade-out? 86

Appendix The Six (Historical) Wives of Henry VIII 89.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

1860649092

OCLC:

51839142